The Egyptian Theatre is excited to continue announcing the shows that will be here this fall.  The following shows have been announced today (June 13).  More shows will be announced in the coming weeks.

September 9
For Love & Rock ‘N’ Roll – Live Concert Musical Tribute to the Women of Rock

September 23
The Original Legends of Chicago Garage Band Music

October 19
The Manhattan Transfer 45th Anniversary Tour

Tickets for the shows below will go on sale:
Wednesday, June 14 at 10:00 AM
Friends of the Egyptian Theatre members pre-sale starts

Friday, June 16 at 10:00 AM
On sale to the general public

The Egyptian Theatre is excited to start announcing the shows that will be here this fall.  The following shows have been announced today (May 30).  Many more shows will be announced in the coming weeks.

Tickets for the shows below will go on sale:
Wednesday, May 31 at 10:00 AM
Friends of the Egyptian Theatre members pre-sale starts

Friday, June 2 at 10:00 AM
On sale to the general public

Cory Jobe, Director of the Illinois Office of Tourism, gave a presentation at the Egyptian Theatre on May 11th as part of National Travel and Tourism Week.

Director Jobe highlighted the newly released State of Illinois Tourism economic impact numbers from 2016, the newly launched EnjoyIllinois.com, the Illinois Made program and more.

In conjunction with talking about the Illinois Made program, he announced Jonamac Orchard as the second Illinois Made Maker for DeKalb County, joining Whiskey Acres Distilling Co.

From Left to Right: Nora Reeves – Egyptian Theatre Box Office Manager, Brandon Pugh – Egyptian Theatre Event Services Director, Cory Jobe – State of Illinois Director of Tourism, Alex Nerad – Egyptian Theatre Executive Director.

Interview conducted by: Kevin Ray – Egyptian Theatre Intern

Deanna is the executive director at the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board. I had a chance to interview her about the upcoming Paper Tigers Documentary held at the Egyptian Theatre on May 16th at 7:00pm. This showing is free and open to the pubic, and will include a panel discussion after the film.

Kevin: Tell me a little bit about your organization?

Deanna: My organization is a governmental organization, the DeKalb County Community Mental Health Board (DCCMHB).  We are a unit of county government, authorized by statute to use tax payer dollars (from property taxes) to fund services for DeKalb County resident around mental health, substance use disorders and developmental disabilities.

Kevin: Tell me why you are looking to show this documentary?

Deanna: In partnership with the DeKalb County Juvenile Justice Council, the DeKalb County Youth Services Bureau and Hope Haven, we are committed to making DeKalb County a trauma-informed community.  That means a community that involves understanding, recognizing and responding to the effects of all types of trauma and to help survivors rebuild a sense of control and empowerment.

Kevin: What conversations do you hope will be inspired by you showing this documentary?

Deanna: We hope to engage in conversations about behaviors we label as “bad” or “risky” that are actually a response to trauma in one’s life.  We want people to talk about recognizing that others may have different types of trauma in their lives, and that all people experience and define trauma a little differently.

Kevin: Why did you decide to partner with the Egyptian Theatre?

Deanna: We can’t imagine showcasing an event like this anywhere else.  The Egyptian Theatre is at the center of our community and therefore is a comfortable place, even to deal with uncomfortable topics.

Kevin: What are you looking forward to most about showing this documentary?

Deanna: Engaging others in this important work.  If we can get even 1 or 2 people to become champions of trauma informed care, we have made DeKalb County a better place to be.

A final interview between our Executive Director Alex Nerad and our intern Kevin Ray from Northern Illinois University who was with us for the spring semester.

Alex: What was your favorite memory from the semester as an intern at the Egyptian Theatre?

Kevin: My favorite memory at the Egyptian Theatre was promoting and seeing the different shows that were put on. I especially liked the Gaelic Storm concert. Seeing the different types of audiences that went to these shows, and seeing how I helped bring in a bigger audience for these shows really helps me see the difference I was able to make as an intern here.

Alex: What surprised you most about working at the Egyptian Theatre?

Kevin: I was surprised about how much the Egyptian Theatre means to the town of DeKalb. Before this internship, I didn’t even know this theatre existed. This theatre brings in so many different types of performances for so many different types of audiences. A lot of people do not have the means to go to downtown Chicago and see big shows, but the Egyptian Theatre brings the shows to those people. So many individuals came up to me to tell me about how much the Egyptian Theatre means to them. How it gives them something to look forward to on the weekend. The influence the Egyptian Theatre has on the local economy is another thing that surprised me. You usually do not see a theatre bring such an amazing influence to a town. Local businesses like O’Leary’s Ale House benefit every time the Egyptian Theatre brings a show into town. What I was not surprised about was the amazing work Alex Nerad, Brandon Pugh, and Nora Reeves do for the theatre. They have both made the Egyptian Theatre the place to be in DeKalb, and I was very glad and honored to work alongside them this semester.

Alex: What is something you learned while interning at the Egyptian Theatre?

Kevin: I came into this internship with multiple goals. The main one was to learn the ins and the outs of a nonprofit organization. For the longest time I always wondered what they did, and what type of influence they carry. As a political science major, learning about nonprofits is a key portion that is overlooked because nonprofits are a huge part of politics. I also learned some awesome marketing and Public Relations strategy’s. I minor in Journalism, so writing the interviews every week, and interviewing the incoming performers have helped me gain some key communication and writing skills that will help me a lot of in the future.

Alex: What would you like other NIU students to know about the Egyptian Theatre?

Kevin: I want them to know that they are missing out on the Eden of entertainment known as the Egyptian Theatre. There are so many amazing shows that will peak the interest of all sorts of different students. Many students do nothing, but sit around and watch Netflix on their days off from school. I want them to know that there is a gold mine of entertainment that they are missing out on. I want them to know how amazing of a place this is so they tell their friends, and so on and so on until every student at NIU is looking forward to what the theatre brings next.

Alex: If you could see any movie or performer at the Egyptian Theatre what/who would it be?

Kevin: I would want to see Bill Burr come through DeKalb and perform at the Egyptian Theatre. The students of NIU would flock in like they just heard there are $1 subs at Jimmy Johns. I consider him to be the funniest person alive. He has filled stadiums, and arenas all over the country. You could also increase the ticket prices because of how many people would try to get tickets. It would be an amazing business opportunity. It would also be the start of something pretty awesome. He would tell his comedic friends like Adam Sandler or David Spade who do small towns shows to come through DeKalb and perform which also brings together the students and towns people to laugh and have things in common. There is no better way to reach the NIU students than through inappropriate comedy.

Alex: What plans do you have for the summer?

Kevin: This summer I will be reffing soccer and working as a camp counselor at my local YMCA. I also plan on being outside pretty much 99% of the time over the summer hanging with my friends and family relaxing after a long hard working semester. I also plan on attempting to be tan even though I will most likely burn, but that’s okay.